New York Philharmonic names next music director

Dutch conductor Jaap van Zweden will become the next Music Director of the New York Philharmonic, beginning in 2018-19, the Orchestra's 177th season. He will serve as Music Director Designate in the 2017-18 season.

As the New York Philharmonic's 26th Music Director, Mr. van Zweden — currently Music Director of both the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra — will succeed Alan Gilbert, whose tenure began in 2009 and culminates in the 2016-17 season.

"This is one of the happiest and most fulfilling days of my life," van Zweden says. "To be asked by the great musicians of the New York Philharmonic and by the Board of this iconic institution to be its Music Director is truly an honor. As musicians, we strive to achieve the best for our audiences in sharing the music of so many gifted composers of the past and present as we look to the future. My heart is full, and my family and I look forward to being true New Yorkers, as I was during my Juilliard days."

As Music Director Designate in the 2017-18 season, van Zweden will conduct several weeks of concerts. As Music Director beginning in 2018-19, he will conduct the Orchestra for 12 weeks each year.

Acclaimed for superb performances and orchestra-building in Dallas and around the world, Amsterdam-born van Zweden was appointed at age 19 as the youngest-ever concertmaster of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, and began his conducting career 20 years later in 1995. It was upon the encouragement of Philharmonic Laureate Conductor Leonard Bernstein, during a rehearsal of Mahler's First Symphony there, that he first took up the baton. His appointment as Music Director of the New York Philharmonic will be a homecoming for van Zweden, who was trained as a violinist at The Juilliard School.

Gallery

Fullscreen SlideshowPrevious Slide

1 of 1

Next Slide